Environmental Engineering Alumna is one of six women to be recognized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches' Athena Awards.

As a high school senior who was good in math and science, Becky Hachenburg gave her career path serious thought.

"I was interested in environmental engineering and water quality and leaning toward becoming a scientist, but my dad suggested I look into engineering," Hachenburg said. She posed the question to a Notre Dame professor, who told her a scientist evaluates and provides data, while an engineer takes that data and tries to solve problems.

Problem solving resonated with Hachenburg, who went on to get a degree in environmental engineering at the University of Florida.

Today she's a principal engineer with the environmental engineering firm MWH, overseeing its Palm Beach County office. She's been with the company for 14 years and has worked on water projects of increasing size and complexity, including water supply systems, water treatment facilities, alternative water supply, Everglades restoration, decision support systems and construction management.

A year ago, she accepted a management position and has led multiple marketing efforts, opened a new office and grown her staff.

Hachenburg grew up in Fort Lauderdale and has lived in Royal Palm Beach for nearly five years.

One of her favorite work projects, the Sawgrass Water Treatment Plant, was also one of her first.

"I worked in the field at the pilot treatment facility which helped decide the water treatment processes that would be used for this new plant," she said. "This project was great because I really grew up as a consulting engineer working on every facet."

Hachenburg is involved in the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County League of Cities, Junior League of the Palm Beaches, and Leadership Palm Beach County.

She volunteers for the Girls Advocacy Program, Becca's Closet, Pediatric Oncology Support Team, Nelle Smith House, Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Palm Beach County Historical Society.

In her free time, Hachenburg spends time with her husband, Mark: playing with their two beagles, watching movies and swimming. Three years ago, she competed in the U.S. Masters Swimming Short Course National Swim Meet in Coral Springs.Since voters put her in the Palm Beach County Tax Collector's Office in 2006, Anne M. Gannon has challenged staff to come up with ideas to make its customers happy.

She dubbed the plan "Journey to the Un-Government Experience" and introduced a set of values, including creativity and fun.

"We wanted to make a trip to our office less painful," she said. "Our employees are so cool about this."